A boxing champion scored a vicious one-punch knockout so thunderous on Saturday night that even UFC superstar Conor McGregor and NBA legend LeBron James offered their praises for it.
McGregor lavished some “incredible” acclaim on boxing champ Gervonta “Tank” Davis, one of the most sensational fighters in the sport today, for his epic one-punch knockout of three-division champ Leo Santa Cruz.
James hailed the moment as the “knockout of the year”.
You can watch the stunning knockout below courtesy of Showtime.
That uppercut.
@Gervontaa scores a round 6 knockout over @leosantacruz2. #DavisSantaCruz
You can see the posts from McGregor and James below.
My lord! What a vicious uppercut that was. Praying for the health and safety of Santa Cruz there. The young man “Tank” Davis has some serious venom in that back hand shot. Incredible!
@ProperWhiskey fight night 🥊
Knockout of the Year!! My GOODNESS!! Night Night @Gervontaa 👏🏾🙏🏾
Here’s another vantage point of the epic knockout recorded from ringside.
.@Gervontaa Tank Davis devastating KO of Santa Cruz from ring side 👀
By the way, Santa Cruz revealed after the fight he was okay.
We didn’t get the win, but I’m okay. Tough fight and congrats to @Gervontaa on his victory. Thanks to the fans for all their support for me and my family. #TeamSantaCruz
Davis Scores Huge Win on Showtime Pay-Per-View
Davis defeated Santa Cruz in the main event of a Showtime pay-per-view card at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas.
Before the telling blow landed in the sixth round, Davis vs. Santa Cruz had been a terrific back-and-forth action fight between two top stars.
In fact, all three judges sitting at ringside only had Davis ahead by one point when the stoppage occurred.
But Davis didn’t leave it anywhere close to being in the judges’ hands for the evening. His brutal knockout was so decisive that it was immediately apparent the fight was over just as soon as it landed.
With the win, Davis, who currently holds a secondary title at 135 pounds and is promoted by McGregor’s boxing rival Floyd Mawyeather Jr., solidified his standing as one of the fastest risers in the sport.
Congrats champ! @Gervontaa
The 25-year-old from Baltimore improved to 24-0 with 23 KOs.
Meanwhile, Santa Cruz lost his 130-pound title belt to Davis in the fight. The 32-year-old fell to 37-2-1 for his career.
After the bout, Davis said he was ready to fight in both of boxing’s junior lightweight and lightweight divisions. Davis has mostly competed at 130 pounds in his career but has also recently ventured north to 135 pounds.
Wherever he lands next, Davis has become must-see TV for boxing fans everywhere.
McGregor: ‘Incredible!’
McGregor sure seemed to be impressed.
The 32-year-old Irishman posted, “My lord! What a vicious uppercut that was. Praying for the health and safety of Santa Cruz there. The young man ‘Tank’ Davis has some serious venom in that backhand shot. Incredible! @ProperWhiskey fight night.”
McGregor’s whiskey company was one of the event’s sponsors. In fact, his company’s logo was emblazoned very large on the mat inside the boxing ring in Texas on Saturday night, not to mention, on the very corner pad Santa Cruz dropped past as he fell to the canvas.
You can see McGregor’s tweet about the knockout, as well as a picture from the UFC of his company’s logo in the ring at the boxing pay-per-view event, in the social media posts below.
@TheNotoriousMMA @ProperWhiskey Face of the fight Game. @ProperWhiskey
McGregor Compares Punch To His Own vs. Mayweather
Later, McGregor compared the uppercut Davis landed on Santa Cruz to the one he nearly landed against Mayweather back in 2017.
Mayweather stopped McGregor in the 10th-round, but the Irishman plans on heading back into a boxing ring again next year against Manny Pacquiao.
I walked Floyd onto mine as he rushed in with a back hand to my..?(to where ever he was aiming that back hand lol) Davis stepped out and in with his, fully planted.
Way more devastating!
My shot, though slightly smothered, was still a tasty fast shot. Happy at the time #learning
McGregor believes he will be in much better shape this time around, perhaps even solid enough on his feet to give Davis a run for his money as far landing clean shots in boxing goes.
McGregor posted, “…I am infinite times better than I was then.”
They won’t let me fight again in 2020. But yes, that boxing bout was 3 years ago now. I am infinite times better than I was then. No question! Excited to show! Only got 40 seconds out the last time.
Pro Fighters and Celebs React
Other professional fighters were also impressed by the knockout.
WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford maybe said it best: “Daaaammmmmm!!!!!!”
Daaaammmmmm!!!!!!
Later, Crawford called Tank “sharp”.
I’m no hater good fucking fight Tank you was sharp
Unified welterweight champ Errol Spence also called the action. Spence said, “Sat his a** down…”.
Sat his ass down damn
Later, Spence compared Tank’s punch to a horse’s kick.
Mf hit like a horse kick 🤦🏿♂️
But one rising star, undefeated lightweight contender Ryan Garcia, said the huge punch wouldn’t keep him from wanting next crack at Davis.
“It’s my turn next…”, Garcia posted.
Across the board, the huge knockout from Davis was praised by many people from the fight world and beyond.
GOT HIM!!!!!!! Damn, Gervonta 😳 #Boxing
Santa Cruz was fighting his ass off… but that power boy daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn
Congratulations champ “TANK” @Gervontaa 🙏🏿
Big salute to the young lion @Gervontaa on a huge victory tonight!! Rumble young man rumble! ✊🏾✊🏾
I think I just saw the best pound for pound fighter in the world @Gervontaa!!
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Conor McGregor, LeBron James and More React To Viral KO [WATCH]